ZWO FF80 Telescope, AM5 & ASIAIR Plus: 6-Month Review & Step-by-Step Setup Tutorial!

[@jrs77]

Alot of people dislike ZWO for the walled garden of the ASIAir, but they're the only company who actually offer a allmost complete solution for astrophotography - lacking only a rotator. With the recently released 2600MC/MM Air you can build an even cleaner and smaller setup and I wish I had the $€10k funds for that.

[@suhailg509]

And now a rotator from ZWO exists!

[@mahdi351]

a nice family setting. good luck.

[@astroedsastrophotographych4562]

Nice setup, amazing images!!

[@AstroForumSpace]

Tx so much!

[@TiagoRamos79]

Thank you for your sharing. I have the old Air Pro and an Air Mini, and I also work with the Nina. For the years I've been following you, I think you should already have a ZWO EAF, and save some Euros for the future ZWO CAA, but that's my opinion. We have shared astrophotography experience at the same time. You in the Netherlands and me in Portugal. And in relation to its setup, it's perfect for what it meant in terms of combining life as an astrophotographer, family life and professional life 🙂. Hug from Algarve Portugal

[@simbyair]

Thank you ive been thinking of looking into this but never understood it all. Great explanation and lovely looking set up.

[@AstroForumSpace]

Thanks so much 🙏!

[@crm114.]

Nice overview, thanks. I nearly went for the ZWO AM5 myself but I wanted a mount that could handle my Edge11 rig which is a bit over 18 kg. I’ve just got the Warp Astron WD20 which so far is proving to be very impressive.

[@daniel77455]

I’ve wanted to get into astrophotography but seeing how immensely complicated the whole equipment setup and process is, I think I’ll look for another hobby.

[@AstroForumSpace]

If that's how you feel, check: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKubp35uiciofKc

[@flappah]

There is of course always the smart telescope route you could go. A ZWO Seestar or Dwarflab Dwarf is also a nice choice. Or you could go the DSLR route if you're already into terrestrial photography. That last one is how I got into astro photography. I just picked up my Nikon camera and 600mm lens and mounted that on a tracking rig. It's still an expensive hobby but at least you get the option to spread costs somewhat! :)

[@simbyair]

Buy a smart scope then you will be hooked

[@swagonman]

Great video. I’m considering the FF80 for a future purchase. I have AM5, ASI2600MC Air, and only the FMA180 Pro tiny scope, with ZWO’s EAF. It’s 180mm focal length. Next I want twice that with WO RedCat 71. Then eventually, something like the FF80. Or I might go a little longer if I find a scope that has tight spot diagrams into the APS corners, good build quality, and reasonable price.

[@mariospenard5125]

Well done! 🙂

[@Daniel_DP83]

A Video about the 2600 MC Duo would be nice! I think in near future Sequence Generator brings his Update of Version 4.5, at time you could test it as Beta-Version!

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

Nice looking rig Wido. I'm currently building up something similar around a WO GT81, I've gone with the ASI5333MM pro cooled mono camera and I decided on a Sky Watcher Wave 100i mount. For control I'm using the ASIair mini, half the price of the plus here in the UK but it does everything I need it to. I have been using this set up with a Red Cat 51 instead of the GT81 and an ASI585MC Pro cooled OSC camera All through the summer and that worked really well. I notice you don't seem to be using an EAF, is there any reason, I really like using them because I can use the auto focus function or adjust the focus from the app without touching the rig. Love the Andromeda Galaxy image. The Pleiades was pretty awesome too. Clear Skies.

[@swagonman]

If you lift the whole rig during polar alignment, you need to send the point back to home position and restart the polar alignment over. Otherwise, your PA is off and guiding won’t be as good.

[@Jagdnet]

amazing

[@dalesimonds]

I just got my FF80 this morning, but I had to add 50mm of spacers to get it to focus. I’m using a asi183mc camera. I didn’t think I’d need any spacers. I still can’t get the camera to work except in video mode

[@paskoh]

I was wondering why you chose not use an UV/IR cut filter for the galaxy. Do you think it can impact the quality a bit? Or what about a broad band filter like an L-Pro. I am in about bortal 7 hence why I ask. Thank you

[@AstroForumSpace]

The 2600mc pro has a native IR cut filter, so no need to add one. As for broadband light pollution, background extraction software like DBE and graxpert takes care of it 😀.

[@flappah]

This is exactly the scope I'm planning to buy later in November. I'm already using an ASIAIR plus and AM5 mount currently with my Nikon D780 so that's already taken care of. I'm only still in doubt between buying the 585MC-pro or 533MC-pro camera. Unfortunately the 2600MC-pro is currently out of budget for me so it's either a 533MC pro or 585MC pro for me. I'm still not sure though which one. Any suggestions?

[@lac19951]

Is this setup good for planets as well?

[@AstroForumSpace]

Nope. You'll need a larger aperture dobsonian, sct or MAK for that.

[@GerbenBijhold]

Zou je ook eens fotos van de maan willen publiceren met deze set?

[@mikehardy8247]

What do you power with lines voltage?

[@mr.f.9672]

I'm on the fence for this scope. The only major problem is that you have no chance to colimate a badly manufactored scope in case of a petzval design. See your elongated stars in the corner. So my dealer suggested Askar 103apo which is a triplet he can test and correct before delivering. I don't know what to do. Perhaps ZWO scopes are selected better optics from Askar. But if in later usage colimation gets shifted no one can help for a petzval scope, right?

[@AstroForumSpace]

Triplet refractors require an additional flat-field corrector and a very specific back focus, which can introduce its own challenges. In my experience, some triplets with correctors made it difficult to completely eliminate elongation, particularly towards the edges when using larger APS-C sensors like the IMX571 (ASI2600). Personally, I really enjoy my 80FF-it’s a bit on the slower side, but I appreciate that it’s one of the more affordable options while still delivering solid results. Did you catch the section at 13:50 where I show the tests? And yes, it's reasonable to expect well-collimated telescopes right out of the box. If not, you should definitely bring it back and ask for another one. Best of luck with your decision!

[@mr.f.9672]

@AstroForumSpace Many thanks for your fast answer.

[@alexandrelafage2827]

Hi, did you have problem whitout tripod extension, like the camera touch the tripod at the zenith?

[@Luftbubblan]

🥳

[@legacysearches4481]

Glad this is not about the new smart scopes. I’m into this type of astro. I already have enough gear but I still like to learn about the new stuff other than the smart scope stuff. That’s just not for me.

[@mikehardy8247]

I don't lift the entire tripod. Rather slightly losten the plate to tripod colar "thumb" screw, and rotate it CAREFULLY.